Animal trap



Jan. 4, 949. Q JONES 2,458,176

ANIMAL TRAP Filed Nov. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/who Vano/a ci/76.9,

@Zz/ZM @m Patented Jan. 4, 1949 ANIMAL TRAP Claude Jones, Jefferson City, Mo., assignor of one-sixth to Eri E. Varble, JeIei-son City, Mo.

Application November 22, 1944, Serial No. 564,634

Claims.

rEhe present invention relates to new and useful improvements in animal traps of a type commonly known as a snare trap and the invention has for its primary object to provide a device of this character adapted for catching the animal in a manner so as to avoid injury or damage to the fur thereof.

An important object of thefpresent invention is to provide a trap oi this character embodying a plurality of noose members together with a frame forming side and front entrances around which the noose members are respectively placed, al1 of said noose members being operated by a trigger released, spring actuated, arm whereby tc provide a multiplicity of snares and thus reduce the possibility of the animal escaping.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide automatic means for locking the snares in their yclosed position about the animal to prevent loosening ofthe snares when the trap is sprung.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efcient and reliable in performance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof", wherein like numerals refer to` like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing the trap sprung,

Figure 4 is a front elevational view.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspectiveview of one of the locks for the noose.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through one of the locks, and,

Figure 'I is a perspective viewv of a modied form of frame for supporting the noose in its open position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a base preferably constructed of light weight wood'and from one end of which a support 6 rises. The support isoi substantially triangular shapeand has spaced apart upper ends 'I between which an ,armispositioned and pivotally attached adjacent one end thereof by means @farmi-9.l j. I

A sectional brace I0 pivotally connects the arm 8 to the base 5 by means of a bracket -II at a point forwardly of the support E. A coil spring I2 is attached at one end to the lower section of the brace and has its other end secured to a plate i3 positioned under the bottom portion of the support 6 and retained thereby tothe base 5, the plate I3 extending forwardly and rearl wardly of the support.

To the rear end of the plate I3 is also attached a coil spring I4 which extends upwardly there-v from for attaching to the rearwardly projecting end I5 of the arm 8.

The spring I4 urges the front end of the arm upwardly and the brace IIJ, with the spring I2, serves to retain the front end of the arm in its upwardly extended position as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The front end of the arm `8 overlies the base 5 and is secured in its downwardly disposed position by means of a trigger I6 having a downwardly extending lower edge I1 positioned between a pair of brackets I8 secured to the base, the trigger being pivotally mounted to the brackets by means of a pin I9 and wing nut 2D by means of which the pivoted end of the trigger may be irictionally adjusted between the brackets I8.

,The rear edge of the trigger IS is formed vwith a lip 2I -under which one end of a catch 22 is engaged, the catch being pivoted at its rear end in an eye 23 secured to the base. The front end of the catch 22 is inserted in the lowermost link 2li of a chain 25 connected to the arm 8.

The front end of the trigger I5 is flattened as at 26 to form a bait holder for the bait'2l.

The trigger I6 projects forwardly through a vertical slot 23 formed in an upstanding shield 29 secured to the base 5 vso that the bait 2'! is positioned forwardly ,of the shield.

A reticulated frame 3B is secured to the base 5 with its rear edge slightly spaced forwardly of the shield 29, the top of the frame being rounded and including front and rear legs 3| and 32 which provide a pair of side openings 33 and a front opening 34 to afford access to the interior of the frame. The bait 21 is positioned substantially at the center of the frame as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

A exible member 35, preferably of woven wire, has one end attached to the front end of the arm 8 and its other end attached to a wire or cable clamp indicated generally at 36. The clamp in cludes an upper plate 3? and a lower plate 38, the upper plate 31 having spaced parallel ears 39 at one end to which the lower plate 38 is pivotally attached by means of a pin 40. The wire 35 is attached to the lower .plate 38 intermediate 31 and'38'areinzalignment when thep'lates'are movedfaway fromf'each other as'fshown 'idF-igure 5 of the drawings and the openings are offset from each other when the plates are movedfteward each other as shown in Figure 6. .Theainf ner end of the opening A4| in the upper plate 31 converges as shown at fl .-fto.:providefrictiongripping engagement withfthefwire-Bi'when the plates 37 and 38 are movedtowardfeach.othen as shown in Figure 6 to thus lock the wire against sliding movement through the clamp.

When the trap is arranged in its set position 1 as .fsl'iovv-nfinzFigure,r l'of thetzdrawingalthe moose 43 is.'- opened-so as Ltosubstantiallyextend around `.trierxedgesof theirontiopeningf 34=ofgthe1framei3l :'.thernoosey being retained rin positionaaround; the opening bytbending the :side ofgthesflexible wire fzrforming: tl1e::f1oose;.iasfindicated .ini Figureffi.

Inithis 'positiontheclamping member: Sr-.occupies ia` :position at` the'. top-:ofthe: openinga' .and with the vupper clamping-LplateS't'raisedfsothat the wiref35 is freefin: theropeningsv l; and "43.

."Whenl .thei traptis: sprung by the .animalrmoving ltheV .triggeril ''sozzas to? release? Ithe;- catch 22 fmthe arm 8 will be swung upwardlyfby:thespring"IIl, thusldrawing the'noose 432lthroughzLthe:clamping member 36".-to snare theanimal-id.

.'.TheL` outwaidly extendingtiportions'of.the .fnoose :G3 immediately belowizithe? clamping "memberll 36 will retainthe upper clampingxplatesL-Slifinzits :raised positionv until thefnoose fiszpu'lled :upwardly :and i contracted 'whereupon'the .upp er:l clamping :.:member S'Zfwill'gravitate .towardtheplate so as '..to roiset" 'the openings 4 I ian'd 42?and1novezithe A'wire 35Lintofrictionigripping. engagement with the' notchlMLof the opening# hof thaupper:clampn r .ingzplatewhereup'on .the'fclampingfmembeii Slwill flock' the noose..against\opening movement.

Similar nooseam'embers' 4andfll'liarenpositioned .'.about the side' openingfz of thetframex, the

noose members llandd'lfbeing connected toeeach other r byz a 1 single Tiiexible :member w8 ffinserted f through an eye-149. pivotally. attached ftov the .arm i8* adjacent Vitsi'outer lend.

The side =noose ymemberszi andll'lmay: be-retained'in position .atfthe respectivesidesrfoi the frame 30 .by'insertingaportioniof' thenoose.` members between the' reariedge: of lthe 'framese vand the' shield' 29 fas shown fin? Eigure lfof: thefdrawings.

The nooseA members? 43, *lliiandii'fl'lsaccoildingly provide snaresforthe Side -aswellLas @thedront entrancesof the trap while'theshield129fcloses1the i `back of the frame so'zthatrtheianimalsinxorder to reachthe bait 21-must enter the 'framelfrom .either the front or side'. entrances'` thereof.

The base tofA the4` trap'may .bei anchored ,to` the fground by means ofthe ringsf secureditoxthe side edges thereof.

In Figure i7, I have illustrated. amodiiedi' form f of frame which' may be .used foricatchingsmaller f animals; andwhich mayfbet usedeither iniplatev of the framev 3ll,ior"in conjunction' therewith.

It is believed lthat thezdetailstof' construction andmanner of useA oflther` deviceswilltbef."readily :understood from" the: foregoingawithout further n n f l D :detailed explanation.y

Having thus described the i invention, what I claim is:

1. .An animal trap comprising a base, a support rising from the base adjacent one end thereof, an

5 arm pivoted adjacent oneend `to the upper portion of said support and having a portion eX- tending rearwardly of the support, spring means attached to said rear end of the arm and adapted i forjyeldablyurging the front' erdff; the arm upthe base at a point forwardly of its pivotal conanection, spring means connected to the brace for Liar-m;:each-1iofssaidtrexiblezrmembersz::including a xnooseportiomexten ding aroundctheedges'.cfr-said openings iportf rising ''fromlthe :ibase uadjacent oneiend thereof, an arm pivoted adjacent one'endi totthe --uppen'portion=0fasaidsupport andhavingfaapor- :tioni .extending `rearwardly i'ofathe'support, spring rmeans?.attached:.tozsaidvrearendtof ..the'f arnr and adapted.".foryieldablyrurging; therfront endzoffzthe J arm rupwardlya.acsectionalg brace: connecting; 'the warmy to the .base'lau a point' forwardly ofitst pivotal *1 Vconnection;.springzsmeanszzconnected" to the;;brace ffor':securingithe:lattentin 'iitsifupwardlyiextended position, triggerrfmeans:eleasablyesecuring:the

:narnirinits rlawermost.positiong'vfa:reticulated frame '-securedztothe.; frontiportionfofathe lbase'lunder flthei fronteeridnof thezarm;isaid".trigger2y means rin'cludinga bait holder.enclosedLwithinfsaid frame, said frame including side landfcf'ront openingssand saefshi'eld :closing the. rear rend of ythe t' frame, .zza pluralityifflexible wire'zmembers attached. to healfmsachfotfsaid :membersiincludinga Lnoose 20 extendingfarouridmhef;edgesaofzsaid:openings-and lzr-embracingawportion Ofi-.thefram nooses in position. l 3.5 Annanimaltrapvcomprisingaifzbase; an up- 2 standing-support arrangedicontiguous'i to an end or saidxbasezand carriedv therebyg a longitudinally sextendinglarmpivotallyzmounted on said support,

:"'spring 'fmeans 'rinterconnecting the frrear z endg'of said arm to saidL'-.baseforiyieldably urging" the v front end therempwardly; atriggerhme'chanism 5 0) ssaidlibaseaandf'spacedfromwsaid Support, `1a reticulated frame positioned on said basef contiguous to said mechanismaand enclosing saidbait'thmder,

ssaid framerhavin'gfrontzand#side 'openings af- 60 fording access to the baitzonssaid'holdergffmeans f.foraoperativelyconnecting said trigger'mechanism to said arm, and a noose carried by'thei rearward ffendiiof said.I armexteridingvaround each! Oflsaid A:openingsfinxembracing'relationv therewithvlfor constricting each nooseupon upward movementpf A:.saidaarm. y

4, inns animali' traps cnmprising:iai:base,ify an@ lupffstandingsupport :arranged co tiguousf lto-am -end ..;of*said1base. 'arid carried: thereby? longitudinally .zextending aarmi pivbtally mounte'dffon said@ sup- ':port;spring.:meansinterconnecting fthe-rear end cofsaidiarmlvto.l -sa'id'ihase".for-yieldably f-urgingthe tronc end: there ofxiupwardly, za* trigger mechanism sincludingaas-.bait supportingrholder arrangedy -along said baseand spaced from said support, aerea msecuring the latter in its upwardly extended position, trigger means releasably securing the arm z2. animal .trapzfcomprisingfxaxbasa 1a 'supe i erito retain?. said including a bait supportingrholdersarranged'along ticulated frame positioned on said base contiguous to said mechanism and enclosing said bait holder, said frame having front and side openings affording access to the bait on said holder, means for operatively connecting said trigger mechanism to said arm, a noose carried by the rearward end of said arm extending around each of said openings in embracing relation therewith for constricting each noose upon upward movement of said arm, and means carried by each noose for securing the same in its restricted position.

5. An animal trap comprising a base, an upstanding support arranged contiguous to an end of said base and carried thereby, a longitudinally extending arm pivotally mounted on said support, spring means interconecting the rear end of said arm to said base for yieldably urging the front end thereof upwardly, a yieldable collapsible brace connecting said arm to said base at a point rearwardly of and spaced from said support for maintaining the arm in its upwardly extended position, a trigger mechanism including a bait supporting holder arranged along said base and spaced from said support, a reticulated 6 frame positioned on said base contiguous to said mechanism and enclosing said bait holder, said frame having front and side openings affording access to the bait on said holder, means for operatively connecting said trigger mechanism to said arm, and a noose carried by the rearward end of said arm extending around each of said openings in embracing relation therewith for constricting each noose upon upward movement of said arm.

CLAUDE JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 322,736 Marshall July 21, 1885 598,438 Plahn Feb. 1, 1898 693,071 Ruud Feb. 11, 1902 817,601 Werd Apr. 10, 1906 1,467,846 Dugas Sept. 11, 1923 1,842,954 Anderson Jan. 26, 1932 

